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East Coast Wonders

From £2641

Excluding Flights

17 Nights

Year Round

Overview

Uncover some of Queensland’s premier coastal attractions on this epic East Coast self drive journey from Brisbane to Port Douglas. Travelling independently by car offers the flexibility to stop as you please in a region that allows many reasons to do so.

This comprehensive tour features many of Queensland’s beautiful beaches and national parks. Wildlife is in abundance from the smallest kangaroo to turtles, dolphins, whales and birdlife. There is also plenty of opportunity for walking and hiking but also time to relax and enjoy this amazing adventure.

With overnight stays on K’gari and onboard a yacht in the Whitsundays included, this itinerary combines the freedom of the open road with the logistics taken care of.

 

Itinerary

On arrival in Brisbane you will be transferred to your hotel for a two night stay. The rest of your day is free to relax and unwind in this uncomplicated, laid-back and fun-loving city.

Spend the day at leisure exploring this sub-tropical city at your own pace. You may like to walk through the botanic gardens and dine alfresco along Eagle Street Pier or walk the 107 steps at the Kangaroo Point Cliffs. For the more adventurous traveller why not consider climbing the Story Bridge and then abseiling down the side! Be sure to experience the festival buzz of South Bank, with markets, bars, restaurants, live performances and Australia’s only inner-city beach.

Collect your rental vehicle and set off on your drive to Noosa via the Bruce Highway. Noosa Heads has a cosmopolitan atmosphere, coupled with the natural beauty of the area.

Spend the day at leisure exploring the national park. There are several walks meandering through the park to the various attractions of Boiling Pot, Hell’s Gates and Paradise Cave, to name a few. In town there are boutiques, first class restaurants and plenty of local entertainment.

Departing Noosa travel to Hervey Bay, which is full of history, beauty and attractions centred round sheltered waters and some 14 kilometres of golden beaches.

Spend a full day explore at leisure. Hervey Bay offers a colourful concentration of lifestyles and its waters are home to turtles, dolphins and dugongs. For those travelling between late July and November you may like to add on a whale watching excursion for the opportunity to see humpback whales.

In the morning you will be met at your hotel and transferred to K’gari for your 2-day guided experience. K’gari is a unique part of the Fraser Coast region and its unusual formation of sand and rainforest make it a special source of adventure for visitors to explore. Tour highlights include Lake McKenzie, the sandy highway of Seventy-Five Mile Beach, Maheno Shipwreck, Indian Head and The Champagne Pools.

Continue sightseeing on K’gari and return to Hervey Bay in the afternoon. The rest of your day is at leisure.

Journey north through Gin Gin and the scenic beachside Town of 1770, named after the year it was discovered by Captain Cook. Travel through Rockhampton to the charming tropical village of Yeppoon, gateway to the Capricorn Coast and Byfield National Park. Here you can birdwatch, bushwalk through rainforest and fish from the beach.

Continue north along the coast to Airlie Beach, gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. There are activities aplenty in this marine paradise including snorkelling, sailing, diving and scenic flights.

Departing from Airlie Beach head off on an unforgettable 2-day cruise on the Great Barrier Reef. By day you’ll enjoy all the wonderful activities on offer including snorkelling, swimming, semi-sub rides, viewing fish from the underwater observatory and sunbathing on deck. Diving (for beginners and certified divers), massage and helicopter flights are also on offer (at an additional cost). By evening soak up the unique solitude and tranquillity of the reef and watch as the underwater world comes to life as the sun starts to sink lower on the horizon.

Start the day with a hearty breakfast. You’ll have the morning to enjoy all the activities of the previous day so dive right back in and explore. Return back to Abel Point Marina for another overnight stay at Airlie Beach.

Continue north through mango orchards and green fields of sugar cane to Townsville. Wander the scenic beach promenade, soak up the balmy nightlife and take a catamaran to the beaches and palm trees of tiny Magnetic Island.

Depart Townsville and set off on the drive to the Atherton Tablelands. Atherton is the ‘capital’ of the Tropical Tablelands, a land of beautiful lakes, rich red soil, tropical rainforest and waterfalls, including the famous Millaa Millaa Falls. Here the temperature is cooler, the pace is slower and there is a feeling of relaxation in the air. Enjoy a two night stay in unique treehouse accommodation overlooking tropical rainforest.

Enjoy time exploring this fascinating region. Tour the ‘undiscovered’ Atherton Tablelands, birdwatch for over 160 bird species, walk one of the many walking tracks or discover the wildlife, from the colourful parrots and platypus to the smallest kangaroo.

Travel to Port Douglas where two World Heritage listed sites meet – the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. Home to golden beaches and some of tropical North Queensland’s most exclusive resorts, the quiet former fishing village of Port Douglas is both sophisticated and relaxed and the perfect place to escape and unwind.

Today you may wish to enjoy more marine adventures at the Great Barrier reef – cruise out to go snorkelling or diving, or enjoy aerial views from a scenic helicopter flight. Alternatively you may prefer to head into the UNESCO World Heritage site of Daintree National Park, a unique habitat where the coral reef meets the rainforest. Mossman Gorge, one of the most visited spots in the Daintree Rainforest, is located just a 20 minute drive north of Port Douglas. Further north lie the pristine beaches of Cape Tribulation and the historic settlement Cooktown.

Optional Experiences

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Outer Barrier Reef Cruise, Port Douglas

Departing from the Port Douglas Marina on board a high-speed, wave-piercing catamaran, this cruise carries guest to the outer reaches of the famous Great Barrier Reef.

Your epic East Coast tour comes to an end as you drive from Port Douglas to Cairns to return your rental vehicle.

Prices & departures

What's Included

  • Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom including 2 nights in a treehouse

  • 9 breakfasts, 2 morning teas, 4 lunches, 2 afternoon teas & 2 dinners

  • Car rental throughout

  • Private transfer on arrival in Brisbane

  • K’gari Explorer Tour (overnight)

  • Overnight Cruise on the Whitsundays

  • 24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday

  • No surcharge guarantee

  • Full financial protection

From £2641 Excluding Flights

17 Nights

Year Round

Prices are per person based upon 2 sharing, subject to availability. Your Travel Specialist will confirm the exact price based upon your tailored requirements, inclusions, and travel dates.

Make this trip yours

Every trip you see here can be adapted to suit you using inside-out knowledge to create one-off experiences created just for you.

Gary
7

Times visited Australia

13

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 We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch. 

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